Apparatus foe



W. W. MILLER.

-APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING S1GNALS.

APPLICATION FILED MM 16. 19m.

1 509,364. Pawnted July 8, 19m.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

q? i l l i l l i l l l THE :omlmam PLANOGRAPM cu., WASHINGTON, n c.

W. W. MILLER.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY H3, T916.

PlltHl'liLd July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS SHEET 2- TTT TTT Pu co, WASHINGTON, [L C W. MILLER.

SMITTI Patented July 8, 1919.

3 TS- H 3.

WILMER W. MILLER, OF ARDMORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING SIGNALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Application filed May 16, 1918. Serial N 0. 97,781.

0 all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILMnn W. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residin at Ardmore, county of Montgomery, and tate of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Transmitting Signals, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus by which alarms or code signals are caused to be transmitted automatically to a distance from the operator.

With the device of my invention it is possible for an operator, situated at some point of vantage, or at a central station, to cause to be sent out over trunk line wires, or the antenna of a wireless sendin set, or other means, a series of code signals which, by a predetermined code, may be readily made to convey intelligible messages or alarms to the parties receiving same.

My invention is designed to provide means whereby the operator may send out such signals instantaneously, by merely pressing a lever, which may be arranged to be done by foot or hand, as is most convenient. The signals may consist of either short or long waves with either short or long intervals between them, conforming to the prearranged code. By the pressing of a switch these signals, if it is So desired, may be made to repeat themselves over and over again, until the desired object has been attained.

It is possible to actuate the apparatus by the operation of alarm traps, such as bur glar or fire alarms, as well as by the opening or closing of well known types of switches manually operated, so that numbers or characters, corresponding to those of the particular alarm trap or signaling switch which has been operated, may be transmitted automatically over telephone lines, as to the central telephone exchange, or radiated from the antenna of a Wireless sending set.

I will now describe a form of apparatus for carrying out my invention, in connection with the accompanyin drawings, in which Figure 1 represents diagrammatically one form of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 represents diagrammatically a modified and simplified form of my invention, and Figs. 3 and & represent respectively a plan and end view of part of the apparatus indicated in Fig. 2.

It is understood that a different system of wiring may be employed, with either open or closed circuits, from that about to be shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, which is defined by the claims at the end hereof.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a is a battery or other source of electric cur rent supply operating through the double pole switch 5. A small motor 0 is connected to one pole of the switch by lines 1, 2. and to the other pole by lines 3, at, 5. The shaft oi the motor carries on one end an electrically operated clutch d, which transmits motion, through a worm and worm wheel 6, to an indicator 7. The other end of the motor shaft carries a similar clutch 9 through which motion is transmitted, by worm gearing h, to a drum 2', by which the signals are given.

The drum 2' is built up of a number of disks mounted together upon its shaft. Each disk has certain notches in its circumference, against which bears a roller on one end of a spring pressed lever 70. The other end of lever is carries one pole of an electric make-and-break. There is a similar contact lever is, operating upon each disk of drum 2'. Thus, in the rotation of the drum, as the rollers on the levers drop into the notches j, contacts are made at their oppo site ends, one of which contacts is made alive, by mechanism about to be described to make the desired signals.

It is understood that the notches on the various disks composing drum 5, are variously spaced apart to produce intervals between contacts conforming to a certain code signal for each disk.

Clutches (Z and g are connected with one side of the circuit by lines 3, 4, 5. Clutch (Z is connected with the other side of the circuit by line 6, contact 7, lever m and line 1. Thus, when the battery is cut in by switch I), a circuit is at once formed through clutch all, operating said clutch to turn indicator A stop lever n is spring held to hold the indicator stationary, but is withdrawn by the energizing of an electro-magnet 'w placed in line 6.

When the circuit is closed through clutch d, therefore, magnet w withdraws stop lever n and the indicator is allowed to rotate.

Mounted upon the same shaft with lndr iatorf is an annular commutator ring 0, divided into as many separately insulated t-ontzu'ts as there arc levcrs In, and individ nally and t'tlllst't'utiVcly coni'iectcd therewith b lines I]. The lixed poles of the, make and'brcah oi' levers lr are connected with one side of the circuit by lines 9. it! and 3. Line $9 contains a magnet. p. which ants upon a. spring liner 7 to close a. contact between wires leading to two binding posts at, y,

'lhese binding posts may be connected with any dispensing system in such a way that every makc-and-break by lever is will close and open again a circuit through the lines leading from the binding posts, there by dissemii'iating the signals as desired. The movable poles of the make and breaks Z. as before stated. connect by lines 11, with commutator 0, within which a linger r. attached to the shaft of indi ator f, turns with it. and undo-s contact in turn with each contact of commutator 0. as indicated to the operator by pointer f. Finger 7 itself is ('HllllOtlttl into the circuit by lever n. con out It and lines 17 and 1. Thus current can flow through the comnmtator and make and hrea k is only while clutch g is closed and the drum revolving.

A contact ring 8 is mounted upon the shaft of drum 1'. Against the periphery of ring a bear terminal brushes between lines 12, 13. At one point on ring a, a section of insulation 8, lies in the path of one of said brushes. causing a break in the circuit at the end of every revolution of the drum. A similar contact ring t. with insulated part 1*. in angular alinemcnt with a. is also mounted upon the drum shaft. the brushes of which are connected by lines 14- With lines 1 and 3 of the main circuit. A. lamp L is placed in line 14, thus givin a visual indication to the operator when he system is operating. as the lamp will be burning as long as the brushes of ring 25 are not upon the insulator t.

R pressing the operators switch S to the right, contact is made between S and 8, while Contact between S and 5 remains unbroken. This energizes an electromagnet it through lines 13, 1t 3 on one side and lines 20. 1 on the other side. Magnet it throws lever in to break contact 7, which disengages clutch d, and makes contact 15, which energizes a ma let 11, holding lever m in its depressed position, when magnet u is demagnetized by the return of switch S to central position.

The apparatus is now in what may be called its normal condition, with both clutches disengaged, and is ready for the transmission of signals.

Suppose the operator wishes to send a signal whose code number is No. 2. To do so he presses his switch S to the left, which breaks contact between S and $5 S, thereby demagnetizing magnet u. [lever in. is pulled back by its spring. making contact at 7. and when switch 9 is returned to its ccntral position, contact at [5 remains broken. hen contact is made at T, magnet in is energized. which draws lover it. out oi engagement: with the indicator wheel (a, breaks a contact 16 twhich will be described laterl and completes the. circuit through clutch (I, so that this clutch is engaged and the worm. worm wheel, pointer f and finger r begin to revolve as before explained. When the pointer has reached No. 2 on the dial the operator presses the lever of switch S to the right, closing the circuit through magnet as before described. and also through another magnet 2 located in line 20.

Magnet. u at once causes lever in to break contact at T and make contact at 1:"), which holds the ltVll in this position after switch H has returnml to its normal position as be fore stated. Breaking contact at 7 allows clutch (I to disengage, whereby the rotation oi the pointer and commutator linger are stopped. and the stop end of lever it holds them pointing to No. 2 on the dial. This movement of lever 71 also closes contact again at 16, which con'iplctcs a circuit through clutch and brush ring .9, by way of line 12, 13 on the one side and line 1. 17 on the other. This engages clutch g and starts drum i and rings a and t revolving, which. according to the notches oi the portion of drum '1 corresponding to No. 2 on the dial, operates the make and break of lever k. which in turn transmits the same through magnet to binding posts an, 3 and thence to the line ri'rnnectcd therewith.

\Vhen lever r israised by magnctpto close the circuit of 0', y. the effect is the. same as if the ordinary telegraph sending key were pressed down. and when lever g is released and breaks the circuit. the effect is the same as when the ordinary sending key returns to its normal position.

The drum 2' continues to revolve until the right hand brush on rin 8 comes over the insulated part 3', when t e circuit. through clutch g is broken. causing the clutch to be disengaged and the revolution of drum and rings to cease. In this rotation of the drum the notches j have caused a single complete signal to be transmitted.

It would be impossible to start the drum revolving again, while the brush is on insulation S were it not that electroinagnet Z, above described, is in line 20.

It will be remembered that when operating switch S was pressed toward the right, current was caused to flow throu h, and anergizc electroniagnets u and a. Magnet 16 caused contact to be broken at 7, thereby stopping the pointer and commutator finger on a certain code number. Magnet e at tracts its armature, which closes a circuit till lllll ill-B through lines 18, 19, which connect with the live circuit in the form of a Icy-pass for the ring 8.

Therefore, in stopping the rotation of indicator f, switch S should be kept pressed to the right, keeping magnet Z magnetized, until the drum has turned far enough to have the insulation 8' pass from under the brush, when motion will continue, as described, for a full revolution, lamp L burning and signifying the fact to the operator. When the lamp lights, switch S may be released.

It is often desirable to have the si als sent out repeatedly, which is accomplished by means of a plug switch P, placed in convenient relation to the operator. By closing this switch at any time prior to signaling or during the rotation of the drum, contacts P, P short circuit magnet 2, and contacts P P take the place thereof, or rather make permanent connection between lines 18 and 19 and thereby by-pass ring 8, and a circuit will be continued through clutch g, keeping the drum revolving and sending out repeated signals so long as the switches remain as described.

It will be understood that in using the terms drum and disk I do not mean to be confined to a revoluble element of drum shape or one composed of mechanically separate or separable disks or parts, but mean to include any revoluble member sections of which cooperate with the respective make and break devices.

In the modified and simplified form of my invention shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the revoluble member is shown as a drum 21, carrying opposite each pair of poles an annular series of pegs which as the drum revolves closes the contacts between the poles.

A certain other outside connection is made that determines which pair of poles become active, and the pegs operating on those poles are so placed as to produce electric signals according to some predetermined code. As shown the pegs 22 make connection at the pole 23 which lie across the circuit of the line a), y.

Suppose the signal or alarm to be started by the closing of one of the station switches 24, which may represent the opening of a door, window, or shutters connected therewith. A circuit is at once set up through the battery 25 and the solenoid 26 corresponding to switch 24.

The energizing of the solenoid trips the catch 27 which allows lever 28 to turn and make the double connection with poles 29 and 30, whereupon a circuit from the battery 25 is established through shaft 32, lever 28, contact 30 and through the motor back to the battery.

Thus the motor is started, which turns drum 21, the pegs 22 of which, acting on the poles 23, send a series of electric im pulses through the circuit leading from terminals a: and 3 shown at the bottom of Fig. 2 and in which is interposed any signaling device (not shown). That is, the circuit is established, starting from terminal as, through line 36, contact 23, contacts 29 and 30, to motor 31, and through battery 25 to terminal y and thence, through the signal circuit back to terminal :12. By this apparatus, whichever switch 24 is sprung, a corresponding set of impulses is sent over the line giving a specific signal or alarm as desired.

This continues until the lever 28 which has been tripped is reset. These levers are pivoted upon a common axis 32, and the latched ends are sprung downwardly by coiled springs 33. A bent rod 34 underlies these ends and may be swung up by means of handle 35 to reset any one of the levers 28 which has been sprung as above described.

Thus one pole of each of the pairs 23 is connected with a corresponding pole 29 in line with a definite one of the switches 2a. The other pole of each of the pairs 23 is connected with a common return 36 leading to one side of the sending line .1: All of the stationary switches 24 are connected by a common return 37 with the other side of the sending line wy.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Lettors Patent is:

1. In an automatic signal transmitting apparatus, the combination with an elec tric motor. of a clutch actuatable thereby, an indicator operable from the clutch, electrically controlled means to control the operation of the clutch by the motor. a series of circuits, means cooperating with the indicator to energize one of said circuits dependent upon the point of arrest of the indicator, and means operable upon the arrest of the indicator to intermittently open and close,

in a prinletcrmincd manner. the said circuit so energized,

2. In an automatic signal transmitting apparatus, the combination with an electric motor, of two clutches actuatable thereby, an indicator operable from one clutch, electrically controlled means to control the operation of both clutches by the motor, a series of circuits, means cooperating with the indicator to energize one of said circuits dependent upon the point of arrest of the indicator, and means operable from the second clutch to intermittently open and close the circuit so energized.

3. In an automatic signal transmitting apparatus. the combination with an electric motor. of two clutches actuatable thereby, an indicator operable from one clutch, electrically controlled means to control at will lib the. operation of the first clutch by the motor a series of circuits, means cooperating with the indicator to energize one of said circuits dependent upon the point of arrest of the indicator, means operable upon the arrest of the indicator to effect the operation of the second clutch by the motor, and means operable from the second. clutch to intermittently open and close the circuit so energized.

t. In an automatic signal transmitting apparatus. the combination with a series of revoluhle elements, of a corresponding series of devices adapted to cooperate with the respective elements during their revolu tion and be actuated thereby, electric cir euits corresponding to the respective elements and devices and which are adapted, when energized, to be opened and closed intermittently in a manner dependent upon the actuation of their respective devices by the respective elements, a movable indicator, means to move said indicator to a predetermined point, and means coiiperating with the indicator to energize one of the circuits dependent upon the point to which said in dicator is moved.

In an automatic signal transmitting apparatus, the combination with a series of revolulilc elements, of a corresponding series of devices adapted to cooperate With the respective elements during their revolution and be actuated thereby, electric circuits corresponding to the respective elements and devices and which are adapted, when energized, to be opened and closed intermittently in a manner dependent upon the actuation of their respective devices by the respective elements, means, including a switch and electric circuits, to selectively connect any of the first named circuits with the source of supply, to edect the rotation of the revoluble elements and to stop the rotation of the same. and means, including another switch and electric circuit, to render said stop means inoperative. thereby effecting an indefinite repetition of the signal transmitting impulses.

(3. in an automatic signal transmitting zip mratns. the combination with a series of revolnblc elements of a corresponding series of devices adapted to coiiperate With the respective elements during their revolution and be actuated thereby, electric circuits con'esponding to the respective elements and devices and which are adapted, when energized, to be opened and closed intermittently in a manner dependent upon the actuation of their respective devices by the respective elements, a rotatable indicator, an electric motor, clutches operable by the motor adapted to operate respectively the indicator and the revoluble elements, means, including a switch and an electric circuit, to render the first clutch operative to turn the indicator to a predetermined point, and means, including electric circuits, to render the second clutch operative and to energize that one of the first named circuits corresponding to the point of arrest of the indic-ator.

7. In an automatic signal transmitting apparatus, the combination with a series of revoluble elements, of a corresponding series of devices adapted to cooperate With the respective elements during their revolution and be actuated thereby, electric circuits corresponding to the respective elements and devices and which are adapted, When energized, to be opened and closed intermittently in a manner dependent upon the actuation. of their respective devices by the respective elements, a rotatable indicator, an electric motor, clutches operable by the motor adapted to operate respectively the indicator and the revoluble elements, means, including a switch and an electric circuit, to render the first clutch operative to turn the indicator to a predetermined point, means. including electric circuits, to render the second clutch operative and to energize one of the first named circuits corresponding to the point of arrest of the indicator, switch mechanism, one element of which rotates with said rcvoluble elements, interposed in the circuit controlling the second clutch, and adapted, in its rotation, to render the second clutch inoperative, and means. including a switch and electrical connections, to complete the circuit of the second clutch around said switch mechanism.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philada., Penna, on this 12th day of May, 1916.

WILMER W. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

